UW College Renaming Brings Period of Transition

While two major colleges at the University of Wyoming have new names as part of UW’s academic restructuring, the process of incorporating those names in all university platforms will unfold over the coming weeks and months.

As Provost and Executive Vice President Kevin Carman reported to UW’s Board of Trustees last week, the College of Engineering and Applied Science is now the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is now the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources.

However, there will be a period of transition for the new names to be reflected on everything from signs in front of the colleges’ buildings to the UW website and printed materials. Additionally, students registering for classes shouldn’t expect to see the new names in the registration process until next year.

“Just as the overall restructuring is taking time to implement, it will be a gradual process for the new names of two of our colleges to be fully represented physically and digitally. This is a year of change for our academic enterprise in many respects, and we would ask for understanding from our constituents as we implement the transition, which could be confusing at times,” Carman says. “What should not be confusing is that two colleges that have long been central to UW’s land-grant mission -- focused on agriculture and engineering -- continue to have that focus and are being strengthened through this reorganization. The new names reflect the colleges’ continued commitment while describing the complementary departments coming their way.”

The restructuring, approved by the UW Board of Trustees last year, generally involves reorganizing the College of Arts and Sciences and the former colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Engineering and Applied Science to better align the life and physical sciences and the humanities, social sciences and arts. This involves the movement of several academic departments -- some that already have taken place and others that will be completed over the next year.

No name change has yet been established for the College of Arts and Sciences; further discussion is anticipated over the coming year. A reorganization of the College of Education also is underway, but there is no consideration of a name change for that college at this time.

Students whose majors are in the departments moving from the College of Arts and Sciences to the newly renamed colleges will be notified in the event that there are changes to their academic advising.